The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOiHgS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
GEN. PIcKTrT's WIDOW.

energy and strength OF character IN the midst
OF misfortune aud a true womanly nature rarely
met with. During the last year OF the war she
followed her husband in the field, living IKE
q GYPSY queen under canvas, and nj the evac-
nation OF Petersburg was under lire several
times while making her escape, faithfully fol-
lowing her husband
The war ended. more trhulatioB awaited
her for an attempt was made 10 deprive her
husband of the privileges Of the Grant-Lee
cartel. aud on tke advice of friends, her hns-
band aud herself took refuge in Canada. There
they found themselves foreign soil, with
an Infant son, aud no bank account. The young
wife. equal 10 the emergency, obtained pro-
fesSOr.hip IN bellies letters, and by this means
supported the little family. Through the medi-
alton OF friends Gen. Grant insisted that his
cartel should be observed with Gen. Pickett as
ii had been with all others, and return home
was made possible.
Tier husband was rendered the Marshalship
Of Virginia by gen. Grant, aud also lucrative
business position in an insurance company.
The latter ne accepted and they both settled
in Richmond where they lived surrounded
10y large circle Of friends and acquaintance.
But lew years, however was this happiness
VOuchea them. for death came aud her husband
was taken. The young widow was thrown
upon her own resources. She obtained minor
Government position, which, with the little
property she mad enables her TO keep the wolf
from the door. She it a clerk in the Interior
Department
GRANTS COURAGE.
Gen. Geo C. Rogers, Chairman OF the Board
OF Pension Appeeis is a very interesting talker
when one can get him started, and he always
has something important 10 say.
zone thing, lac said, talking to THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE the other day, " that made
Grant great was an administrative courage
AWAY
the same cool imperturbable man under all
circumstances. i remember one illustration of
ID. Ii WAS at Nickshurg. j was there in COM
mand of my regiment, and the two lines had
got very close together. We Were not more
than the length of square apart My regi-
meut formed the right OF our division, aud was
next TO the left OF Hoveys. Between us was
a narrow, very deep rayine, leading directly mp
20 the rebel works. liz WAS not wider than a
street and was swept by the rebel bu ilets at very
short range. One day Grant, Logan, McPher-
son and some Others came down 10 my head
quarters TO take look al the enemy from our
rifle pits After Grant had satisfied himself
from that point of view, lac said believe i
will go across there TO HOyey's.'
''ImeHtoned something about it's being pretty
dangerous crossing that ravine, but il produced
NO elect upon him. and we all started 10 walk
across. The rebels, of course, opened on us,
and il seemed TO me that there million OF
bullets striking around there, but Grant never
FASTENED his pace, and walked along as deliber-
ately, talking TO those OF us who followed him or
walked beside him, AS If he were on a fishing
excursion. When we got across and found
HOVey, he asked which way We had come. i
said that we had come across the Tavine.
HOvey expressed his establishment that we got
across there alive. lie could not understand it.
For my part / would not have gone across
again If they had given me the whole of the
saA 4afa A H.A f,,eaf hKtpf
ness, however, j said 20 Grant:
Well, shall we not go back2
No. he said with little laugh. i guess
BOvey has some horses here, and i will ride
around the other way That was the only
allusion he made 10 the danger he had en-
countered.'"
OUR LAW MAKERS
Congressman Ira Davenport of New York,
was married on the afternoon OF Wednesday,
April ~ at Kingston, N. Y, 10 Miss Katherine
Lawrence Sharpe, daughter of Gen. George ID.
Sharpe, who made brilliant record in the
Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac The
wedding was one Of the graudest affairs ever
known IN Central New York, aud was attended
by an unusually large gathering Of dis
tinguished people. More than $50 guests par
toOk of the wedding breakfast. A pretty ana
ancient custom marked the ceremonies. The
bride took la her hands an antique massive
mothers family, slipped little wine from its
brim, kissed the cup and then passed the same
% the groom and each of the guests. This is
the old fashion of passing the loving cup"
Mr.. Davenport and his bride have sailed for
Europe, where they will remain until sometime
before the assembage Of Congress, when they
will take up their abode in Wash ngtOn.
Senator Hawley left Washington last week
for home.
The statement that Senator EdmOnds kissed
number of babies at a Boston reception
last week, and every one of the inn0cents
subsequently died of cOngestiye cbills, il
believed TO be the cruel invention of some
wicked paragraphist who was once blighted by
one of " st. JerOme's" frosty smiles
VETERANS IN THE CITY.
Gen. Chas. w. Blair formerly Of the l1th
Kan, was in the city last week. The General
now resides at Leavenworth, Kan, aud is in
the enjoyment Of a very lucrative law practice
il Is claimed for him that he is the finest pub.
lie speaker west of the Mississippi River.
Gen. James A. Williamson. who went out In
the 4th Iowa aud rose 10 the rank of Major.
General, Is building an elegant house IN the
fashionable part Of the city. He has a fine law
practice here, and is in vigorous health.
Gen. NJ. d. Legeett paid short visit TO the
city Oh business last week.
4. l.. johnson, 203l North First street Phila.
dolphia, Pa. Comrade johnson served in the
navy IN the North Atlantic Squadron during
the WAR lie went out as Surgeons Steward
and before has 18th year was promoted TO As
sistant Surgeon, being The youngest man. il ID
believed, that ever wore tie straps OF that rank
lie served through all the engagements in
which his squadron participated. beside taking
q part in a number Of smaller affairs in which
has ship was engaged.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Civil Service Commissioners are said .,
be dgesting a plan whereby the real working
men and women IN the service can be pro
mOted and paid according 10 their efficiency
while the less valuable clerks will either be re
tanned at their present positions OF droppe6
back into lower grades. The absence of any
genuine incentive 10 jealous service i'm the De
partments has always been a reprOach, for ID i
alleged that the hard working aud the lazy
the capable aud the incapable are all treated
alike, have about the same show for promotion
aud increase OF salary and in general fare a
well iD every respect This the Commissioner
want 10 change aud they are sanguine tina
the method they are periectng will bring abou
the desired reformation. IL will at least b,
waited with interest and lis operations care
fully noted. Many people are not as sanguin,
of ultimate success, however, as the Commits
slOners seem 10 be.
PENSION APPEALs
There are about 1900 unadjudicated appea
cases before the Board Of Pension Appeals a
against about 1900 on the list of November
1856. Since the LIST Of last January there hav
been 7G0 appeals filed aud over 200 decided
I'M 81